“It’s not just the GMs who man the gun mounts during transits and special evolutions, though,” said Gregory. “The Aviation Ordnancemen from the other divisions of weapons department also stand the watches with us.” One of the final and more obscure duties of the GM is the “Shark Watch,” during which a GM will stand watch with an M-14 watching for sharks while Sailors enjoy a swim-call, though whether or not the GMs of Enterprise will have to stand that watch remains to be seen. The GMs of G-2 division are not the only ones doing the job, however. “In G-2 Division, our job as Gunner’s Mates is shared by our Aviation Ordnancemen,” said Cassista. Our department is mostly AOs, more than half of my division is AOs, and here, there is no distinction between the two rates. We do the same jobs and maintain the same equipment. The G-2 division on this ship is probably the finest division that I’ve ever served with.” The GMs aboard Enterprise take pride in different parts of the job, however, most seem to be able to agree on one aspect of being a GM as the biggest benefit. “Gunner’s Mates, above all else, value blowing things up,” said Cassista. Enterprise GMs will continue to stand ready to defend the ship and possibly “blow some things up” as the ship finishes it’s 25th and final deployment, which currently has them underway in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

August 13 , 2012 Issue“We are Legend”Newsletter Edition

USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

The Shutle Shoot to Thrill: Gunner’s Mates Aboard EnterpriseStory by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea – Though its primary arsenal lies in the squadron aircraft embarked aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65), the ship is also equipped with both small arms and crew-served weapons. The Gunner’s Mates (GM) aboard Enterprise are responsible for these weapons and systems. They clean these weapons, maintain them, train crewmembers on their usage, and finally man the .50 caliber gun mounts and M-240 machine guns during special evolutions. “The role that we play on Enterprise is almost strictly defensive,” said Master Chief Gunner’s Mate Joseph Cassista, G-2 division leading chief petty officer, from Cutler, Maine. “We defend the ship with the .50 caliber machine guns, and we own all of the sprinkler systems that keep our weapons magazines safe from fire or accident.” There are 230 Sailors in the Weapons department of Enterprise, only 18 of them are GMs. “We’re such a small division in such a big department on such a big ship,” said Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Kyle T. Gregory, from East St. Louis, Illinois. “That aside, I feel like we are one of the most important pieces to the ship because we work with security involving their weapons, and we’re a part of most special shipboard evolutions.” G-2 division has custody of the shipboard small arms and is overall in charge of the armory. In addition to these responsibilities, they are also in charge of weapons ranges used for qualifications and training. “In addition to weapons, we keep the keys to the different weapons magazines in the armory,” said Gregory. “Aside from giving those out to G-3 division, we do a lot of training to stay up to date with the different weapon requirements and scenarios we encounter in our job.” During underway replenishments (UNREP), up to five GMs will be on station at different UNREP stations prepared to fire shot-lines from Enterprise to whatever ship will be alongside to resupply her. The shot-line, made of spooled thread, is fired from an M-14 rifle and used to move different types of lines and connectors between ships. They remain on station in case of emergency breakaway, in which case they would need to use explosive bolt cutters to disconnect the span-wires between the ships. Another aspect of the job, perhaps just as, or more, important than assisting in resupplying the ship, is standing .50 caliber gun-mount watches. There are usually two Sailors per .50 caliber mount, with an additional body allotted to the double .50 caliber mounts to assist in loading the second weapon.

(Photo by MC3 Randy J. Savarese)

Monday, August 13, 2012Page 2 The Shuttle

The Shuttle is published and printed daily underway and bi-weekly in port by the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Media Department, FPO AE 09543-2810. This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Please direct all story ideas, questions and comments to MC1 (SW) Steve Smith at smithsw@cvn65.navy.mil.

Public Affairs OfficerLt. Cmdr. Sarah T. Self-Kyler

Executive OfficerCapt. G. C. Huffman

Commanding OfficerCapt. William C. Hamilton, Jr.

EditorMC3 Brian G. Reynolds

The Shuttle

USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

Command Master Chief CMDCM (AW/SW) Dwayne E. Huff

Big E Happenings

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Dennis Baez, from Bayonne, N.J., sweeps a passageway he is responsible for cleaning.

ABHAN David Nunn, from Bristol, Tenn., examines the bitter end of a braided metal line.

ABE2 Lavon Turner, from Meridian, Miss., uses a radio to maintain contact with catapult engine operators during scheduled steam catapult maintenance on the flight deck.

AOAN Julian Salcido, from El Paso, Texas, and Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Brandon Lloyd, from Raeford, N.C., inventory ordnance on the flight deck.

Photos by MC3 Scott Pittman

is able to operate under its own power. No personnel on either vessel were injured. The incident is under investigation. The collision was not combat related. USS Porter is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.

Monday, August 13, 2012 Page 3The Shuttle

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- No one was hurt Sunday morning when a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer and a large Japanese-owned merchant vessel collided near the Strait of Hormuz. The collision between USS Porter (DDG 78) and the Panamanian-flagged bulk oil tanker M/V Otowasan occurred at approximately 1 a.m. local time. Overall damage to Porter is being evaluated, but the ship

Earlier he urged residents in the zone not to panic, reassuring them that “help is arriving and rescuers are already at the scene.” “Up to now, there are no deaths reported in the cities and all the victims come from rural areas,” he said. Iran’s Red Crescent took over a sports stadium to shelter the 16,000 people left homeless or too afraid to return indoors, the Fars news agency reported. It also provided 3,000 tents, blankets and tonnes of food -- all a sign of years of preparedness in a nation prone to sometimes catastrophic seismic activity. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s office posted a statement on its website expressing condolences to those in the disaster zone and calling on authorities to “mobilise all efforts to help the affected populations.” According to the official IRNA news agency, 66 rescue teams were at work, using 40 devices and seven dog squads to detect buried survivors. Some 185 ambulances were sent to the area.

Rescuers Dig for Survivors After Quakes Kill 250 TEHRAN, Aug 12, 2012 (AFP) - Rescue teams in northwest Iran strived Sunday to dig survivors out of the rubble of villages levelled by twin earthquakes that killed at least 220 people and injured more than 1,500, according to officials. With telephone communications disrupted in the disaster zone, northeast of the city of Tabriz, emergency teams were relying on radios and travelling in person to hard-hit villages to rescue and assess the destruction. The quakes, which struck Saturday within 11 minutes of each other, measured 6.2 and 6.0, according to Tehran University’s Seismological Centre. The U.S. Geological Survey, which monitors seismic activity worldwide, ranked them as more powerful, at 6.4 and 6.3 on the moment magnitude scale, respectively. Khalil Saie, the head of the regional natural disasters centre, told state television that at least 200 people had perished and more than 1,500 had been injured. He warned that the toll could go up.

In the NewsNo Injuries in Strait of Hormuz CollisionBy U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

By Marc Burleigh, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Turkey Plan for Worst-Case Scenarios in SyriaBy Matthew Lee, ASSOCIATED PRESS

governments,” Clinton said. She said the U.S. State Department and Turkey’s Foreign Ministry had already been working together on the issue but that the new working group would increase the involvement of the intelligence services and militaries of both countries. Among the contingencies that the U.S. and Turkey agree on the need to plan for is “the horrible event” that chemical weapons are used, Clinton said. “What would that mean in terms of response, humanitarian and medical emergency assistance and, of course, what needs to be done to secure those stocks from ever being used or falling into the wrong hands?” Clinton said.

ISTANBUL - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Turkey’s foreign minister said Saturday that their countries are creating a formal structure to plan for worst-case scenarios in Syria, including a possible chemical weapons attack on regime opponents. Clinton and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said their two nations would set up a working group to respond to the crisis in Syria as conditions there deteriorate. They said the group will coordinate military, intelligence and political responses to the potential fallout in the case of a chemical attack, which would result in medical emergencies and a likely rise in the number of refugees fleeing Syria. “We have been closely coordinating over the course of this conflict, but now we need to get into the real details of such operational planning. It needs to be across both of our

Monday, August 13, 2012The ShuttlePage 4

AEAN Juan Cepeda, from Chicago, joined the Navy one year ago to serve his country. In his spare time, he enjoys working out and motorcycles. In the future, he plans to advance in rank and become more money savy.

Aviation Electrician’s Mate AirmanJuan Cepeda

Sailors of the Day

RP2 Ralph Anthony Oliver II, from San Diego, joined the Navy five years ago to travel and see the world. In his spare time, he enjoys watching comedy movies, relaxing and spending time with his wife. In the future, Oliver plans to advance in rank, own a couple of businesses and become a pastor.

Religious Programs SpecialistRalph Anthony Oliver II

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